FUNDAMENTAL
DOCUMENTS

ARCHIVES/
LIBRARY

ONLINE
RESEARCH
TOOLS

ONLINE
DOCUMENTS

ONLINE
SERVICES

COUCH TO WORTHINGTON

Chillicothe July the 5th 1813

Honorable Sir

I have just returned to Chilicothe and have the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 24th ultimo, for which I ask leave to tender all due acknow- ledgement.

This mail will quiet the apprehension which have again been entertained for the safety of the N.W. Army. I had started towards the Frontier and re- ceived on the way the favorable news as expressed in the hand bill enclosed. The militia were collecting again to releive Fort Meigs as required; but the emergency must have been great indeed to have roused the people at this busy season of the year, numbers however convened until the glad tidings were re- ceived, that the Army and the out posts were in a state of security. You can hardly imagine Sir, how joyful was this news, to the laboring people of the state who are just beginning harvest, To have been compelled to march at this period must have ruined many families, and left the crops ungathered. When the Army will commence active operations in the N. West, is uncertain -- I am apprehensive, that Genl Harrison's force will be much larger on paper than it will be in reality and if the enemy should reinforce at Malden, the conquest will be more difficult than is generally beleived. Our little fleet on the Lake must now soon be ready. Lajor Jesup writes me, that about seventy boats are finished at Cleaveland, which will be used merely for transports. The twelve months regulars raised in this state are moving towards the Lake -- but the recruiting service here progresses slowly -- Genl McArthur's Regiment as yet contains but few men and many of the Ohio recruits are prisoners of war: I Discover, Sir, that Congress are much engaged with the tax bills, which are doubtless the most unpleasant of all other business of Legislation. It is so extremely difficult to introduce a system of taxation, which will operate equally that we may expect a bear all the rancour & calumny that party can produce.

We have no news here, Sir, of a local (post) master nature[?] worthy of notices war and rumours of war, seem to consume every other object of atten- tion -- Wishing you both pleasant and prosperous sessions, I am, Sir, very Respectfully Your Obedt Humble Servt

Jesup N. Couch

Hond Thomas Worthington

212